My skin type has changed throughout the years. In my teens and early twenties, I had oily skin and needed to use blotting pads during the day to keep shine under control. But now in my twenties, my skin has taken on a new temperament. Excess oil and shine are no longer my beauty woes, but I’m still dealing with hyperpigmentation from old acne scars. I’ve developed small patches of dry skin. My face had taken on too many bitter winters in New York City and running in cold weather has made my skin feel tight and less supple.
… Enter essential oils.*
To be honest, I was at first deterred by the idea of using essential or facial oils since I had spent so many years trying to normalize my skin. What good would slabbing some oil on it do? But I quickly learned that not all facial oils are the same. There are oils that are intensely hydrating and as slick as olive oil, but there are also essential oils that are have a serum-like consistency or a creamy texture. Just like essences, toners, and face washes, there’s an essential oil for everyone.
For treating dry, rough patches of skin, I recommend Skinfood’s Premium Avocado Rich Essential Oil. This product is an essential oil in its true sense of the word for me. It’s slippery to the touch and very moisturizing. It comes with a glass dropper bottle, which makes it easy to control how much product I want to use. Avocado oil is extremely nourishing and is packed with omega-3 fatty acids that help keep skin looking plump and young-looking. I find this oil to also be great for moisturizing my cuticles, removing waterproof eye makeup and red lipstick, and preventing hangnails. In addition to avocado oil, it has nourishing jojoba seed and fruit oils.
The essential oil I’ve come to be completely obsessed with is Goodal’s Super Seed Oil Plus Balancing Moisturizer. Its lightweight formula is made for normal to combination skin, and it’s designed to help even skin tone from redness and hyperpigmentation. This is the type of essential oil that my skin takes well to throughout the seasons of the year. It absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling refreshed. I love applying this after washing my face in the evening. You can either lightly pat it on your face or massage it into the skin.
As someone who has used mostly foaming face washes, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried Klairs Gentle Deep Black Cleansing Oil. It has an oily, serum-like consistency but is not sticky at all. It’s made with black bean, black sesame, and black currant seed oils that help bring balance to the the skin’s natural oils while deep-cleaning pores. This two-steps-in-one product removes waterproof makeup and thoroughly cleanses my face. To use this product, apply one to two pumps of the oil on dry skin (even with makeup!). Massage it into skin for about a minute, making sure you cover all areas of your face. Then, rinse it off with warm water. This oil cleanser is great for normal to combination skin.
Lastly, I’d have to say that I absolutely love all the packaging of these products. The simple pump of the Klairs cleansing oil makes it easy for me to control how much product I want, and the glass dropper bottles for the Skinfood avocado oil allows me to apply the tinsiest amount of product to my hands and feet.
—Tiffany Ayuda
Tiffany Ayuda is a editor and writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared on Everyday Health, Women’s Health, POPSUGAR Beauty, Mochi Magazine, and more. When she’s not wax-poetic about hip hop yoga, she likes to whip up kale salads and sweet potato muffins, and obsess over sheet face masks. Follower her on Instagram @tiffanatic12.
*ed note: “essential oils” in the K-beauty context refer to facial oils, not necessarily concentrated essential oils that you’d find in the aromatherapy section of, say, Whole Foods.
